Nels Norman Midgarden

Nels N. Midgarden, age 81 of Grafton, ND passed away on Tuesday, December 02, 2014 at Altru Hospital of Grand Forks after a short battle with cancer. Nels Norman Midgarden was born October 19, 1933 in Grafton, ND the son of the late Gunder and Florence (Peters) Midgarden. He attended District 13 School in Glenwood Township and graduated from Walsh County Agricultural School in Park River. He attended NDSU in Fargo for one year. Nels served in the United State Army from 1953-1955, serving in Korea. Upon his discharge he returned home and started farming with his father, brother and cousins. He was united in marriage to Sonia Tveit on June 21, 1959 in Larimore, ND. While farming he continued his education at NDSU in the winter months. He farmed until 1995. Nels was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, ND where he served on the church council, taught Sunday School and lead Bible Studies. Nels was the family historian and authored two books. Nels was very active in numerous organizations, some of which include: Busy Beavers 4-H, Walsh County Fair and ND State Potato Show, Nash School Board, Park River Bible Camp, Lutheran Sunset Home, the Unity Medical Center Board, Kiwanis and the Walsh County Historical Society. He served on the Grafton City Council and was very active the American Legion Post #41 Military Honors. Nels is survived by his wife, Sonia, Grafton, ND; children: Kit (Jackie) Midgarden, Hoople, ND; Terre (Glen) Crabtree, Blaine, WA; Chuck (Dana) Midgarden, Park River, ND; five grandchildren: Rebecca (Adam) Chyle, Bryan Midgarden, Jordan Midgarden, David Shapiro, Alex Midgarden; siblings: James (Vicki) Midgarden, Grafton, ND; Peter (Aleda) Midgarden, Silver Hills, AL; Sue (Ron) Nichols, Stanley, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister and son-in-law, Alan Shapiro. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post #41 and the North Dakota National Guard. The family would prefer memorials to the donor's choice in lieu of flowers.